The Dance Theater of Harlem was founded as an uplifting way to turn despair into hope after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Forty-four years later, the dance company is appropriately headlining this MLK celebration, performing pieces such as Gloria, Agon and more. And don’t miss “Embodying the Dream” on Saturday, a free event for children and their families with performing arts workshops, sing-a-longs and dance.

The first Art Seen of 2014 features five shorts films by Aida Ruilova-- including one called “Lulu” which unfortunately pre-dates the Metallica/Lou Reed mess of a collaboration from 2011 of the same name, and has no relation to it-- and Robert Longo’s Lower East Side-based Arena Brains, with Ray Liotta, Steve Buscemi and Michael Stipe. Art Seen is a monthly screening series that focuses on artists. There’s a Q&A with Ruilova after the screening.

RECREATION

Escape Winter’s Frigid Grip With a Trip to the Tropics ―Right in New York

Imagine yourself in a tropical paradise where snow and frostbite are nothing but funny little cartoons you see in children’s books about Christmas. At the NYBG, indulge yourself in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory's permanent collection with amazing photos of palms, tropical fruit, flowering vines, birds of paradise, and heliconias. Someone pass us an ice-cold lemonade, please!

Here’s a chance to ice skate with some New York Rangers legends including Rod Gilbert and Brian Leetch. Each ticket comes with cocktails, soft drinks, a dinner buffet, and special photo and autograph sessions with some of the New York Rangers greats. It’s sponsored by the Ronald McDonald House, which provides support for children with cancer and their families.

Paul Auster, the best-selling, award-winning author of 16 novels, purchased his first book at the age of nine-- a Modern Library edition of Edgar Allan Poe’s poems and stories. Chatting with Isaac Gewirtz, co-curator of the Morgan Library exhibition Edgar Allan Poe: Terror of the Soul, Auster will share his experiences reading and re-reading Poe’s works throughout his life, and the influence it has had on his own writing.

Here’s a place for both pleasure- and money-seekers to get their sexy on. Learn the ins and outs of erotica writing from award-winning author and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel. She’ll teach you to tailor your stories to particular magazines or anthologies, and other tricks of the trade. All you need is a laptop or pencil and paper, and a knack for dirty stories.

Imagine yourself in a tropical paradise where snow and frostbite are nothing but funny little cartoons you see in children’s books about Christmas. At the NYBG, indulge yourself in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory's permanent collection with amazing photos of palms, tropical fruit, flowering vines, birds of paradise, and heliconias. Someone pass us an ice-cold lemonade, please!

Here’s a chance to ice skate with some New York Rangers legends including Rod Gilbert and Brian Leetch. Each ticket comes with cocktails, soft drinks, a dinner buffet, and special photo and autograph sessions with some of the New York Rangers greats. It’s sponsored by the Ronald McDonald House, which provides support for children with cancer and their families.

The largest Balkan music festival of its kind celebrates 29 years of live Balkan, Roma (Gypsy) music with 70+ live bands on four separate stages. Hosted by Zlatne Uste Brass Band, the festival exhibits the diverse musical talents and culture of the Balkan Peninsula. Enjoy Middle Eastern refreshments, Balkan art vendors and Balkan textiles on display.

It’s the second annual Prohibition-themed tasting, and what sounds to us like the event of the year! Enjoy four floors of rare whiskey and beer while you hang around in 1920’s/cocktail attire — yes, that is the dress code. Under the ownership of mobster Al Capone, Webster Hall didn’t abide by the laws of Prohibition – 128 years later they still don’t. Why would they?

How “The Macaulay Culkin Show” doesn’t star Macaulay Culkin is beyond us, but it does promise a “SECRET” celebrity guest. And although Culkin’s never appeared at “The Macaulay Culkin Show” before, we have a feeling the Pizza Underground-singing, kazoo-playing, cheek-slapping, Joe Pesci-tricking Home Alone star just might be the secret guest, but who knows? Comedians who will definitely be performing include Larry Murphy (Bob’s Burgers), Noel Wells (Saturday Night Live), Dave Hill (WFMU’s Goddamn Dave Hill Show) and more.

Is The Bodyguard your favorite movie? Do you wanna dance with somebody? We don’t even want to know your drug of choice, but if you’re a Whitney Houston maniac then here you go: a performance with a plot tied together by the songs of Whitney Houston sung by YOU! Audience members can choose to have singing or non-singing roles, or just watch the show.